Organize and Simplify

A Strength-Based Approach

You may feel overwhelmed by the conflict between the ideal and the reality. People say, “Don’t worry about cleaning the house! Enjoy your baby, she grows so fast!”

When you follow that advice, you can’t find your car keys when you need to go somewhere. Or you’re completely exhausted and overwhelmed at night, facing a stack of dishes.

When you find a balance of standards that fit your family, you (and your family) gain peace and function better.

Organizing and simplifying affects the whole family. For example, feeling unorganized and overwhelmed can negatively affect your self-image and how you model self-esteem for your children, as well as your mood and reactions.

Differences in home organization between you and your partner can also lead to family friction.

Understanding how you organize your life and home -- and making changes where necessary -- benefits the whole family. As you learn how to organize in a healthy way, your children will pick up these skills, too. In fact, you can involve them in the process, setting the stage for them to develop healthy habits.

Ultimately, this helps them become more responsible for taking care of their belongings and keeping things neat and tidy. (Link to Responsibility later.)